BE-4
Vulcan Centaur on schedule for first launch in 2022 as New Glenn slips
United Launch Alliance remains confident that its Vulcan Centaur rocket will make its first launch this year while Blue Origin is pushing back the first flight of its New Glenn vehicle.
Space Force launch director on Vulcan and BE-4: ‘We have to be very focused from here on out’
The head of the U.S. Space Force launch enterprise said it is “unfortunate” that Blue Origin is taking far longer than expected to complete the testing and production of BE-4 rocket engines for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle.
After meeting with ULA and Blue Origin, Air Force secretary cautiously optimistic about Vulcan
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Aug. 24 met with the chiefs executives of United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin and was briefed on the Vulcan Centaur.
Tory Bruno says the challenges with BE-4 are real but the engine is moving forward
United Launch Alliance underestimated the challenges Blue Origin would face in the development, testing and manufacturing of the BE-4 rocket engine, said ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno.
S. Korea’s Kencoa Aerospace expands space business in U.S. with new capital
Kencoa Aerospace Corp., a South Korean aircraft assembler and parts supplier that has NASA, SpaceX and Blue Origin as clients, is planning to expand its U.S. parts manufacturing plant in Georgia.
Blue Origin delivers the first BE-4 engine to United Launch Alliance
The engine Blue Origin delivered is a pathfinder engine to be used in tests.
Blue Origin opens rocket engine factory
Blue Origin formally opened a factory Feb. 17 that the company plans to use to produce engines both for its vehicles and for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
Blue Origin breaks ground for BE-4 factory
As Blue Origin breaks ground on a new factory for producing rocket engines, the company says development of its BE-4 engine will be completed later this year.
Blue Origin’s anticlimactic victory and Aerojet’s Plan B
ULA finally selects BE-4 engine for Vulcan, marking an anticlimactic victory for Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin (and another disappointment for Aerojet Rocketdyne).
ULA selects Blue Origin to provide Vulcan main engine
United Launch Alliance announced Sept. 27 that it has selected Blue Origin to provide the main engine for its next-generation Vulcan launch vehicle, a decision long expected by the industry.
Aerojet Rocketdyne seeks other customers for AR1 engine
With growing doubts it will be selected by United Launch Alliance for its Vulcan rocket, Aerojet Rocketdyne is looking to smaller launch vehicles as potential customers for its AR1 engine.
Blue Origin expects BE-4 qualification tests to be done by year’s end
The chief executive of Blue Origin says he expects the company’s BE-4 engine to complete qualification testing by the end of the year as the company ramps up work on its New Glenn orbital rocket.
Blue Origin expects BE-4 qualification tests to be done by year’s end
Blue Origin's CEO says he expects the company’s BE-4 engine to complete qualification testing by the end of the year as the company ramps up work on its New Glenn orbital rocket.
Blue Origin switches engines for New Glenn second stage
Blue Origin quietly changed the design of its New Glenn rocket around the beginning of the year in order to hold to a 2020 first launch and increase the range of orbital missions the rocket can complete.
BE-4 engine tests continue as ULA waits to make Vulcan engine decision
As Blue Origin continues tests of its BE-4 engine, United Launch Alliance is keeping quiet about when it might select that engine or an alternative for its Vulcan rocket.
Blue Origin conducts first test of BE-4 engine
Blue Origin announced Oct. 19 that it conducted the first successful test of its BE-4 engine, a major milestone for both the company’s launch vehicle plans as well as for United Launch Alliance.
ASRC 3D prints fuel injector prototype for RD-180 successor
ASRC of Beltsville, Md., has test fired a subscale propellant injector built via additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, paving the way for a version that will be able to support whichever engine United Launch Alliance chooses to replace the Russian-built RD-180 on the Atlas 5 rocket.
Blue Origin retains engine lead as House considers limitations on launch system funding
An independent assessment of rocket engine development delivered to a House committee last week has concluded that Blue Origin remains well ahead of Aerojet Rocketdyne despite a recent testing setback.
Air Force looking how to “progress forward” after BE-4 testing incident, official says
Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch said Monday he is working with the Space and Missile Systems Center to figure out the next step after Blue Origin lost a set of engine powerpack hardware during a test.
Loser of ULA’s Vulcan engine downselect will likely lose Air Force funding
Air Force leaders didn't definitively say if they'll cut off funding, but said they're more interested in launch services than engines.
